Welcome to the Independence Plaza North Tenant Association (IPNTA) Web Site

Current News

Letter From HCR (DHCR) Updated Feb 1, 2012

Did you receive a letter from DHCR about a rent increase?
IF YES IF NO
Come to a meeting

Thurs, Feb 9, 7:00 PM 310 Greenwich St
2nd floor community room
You do not need to read this notice.
Did you send an email to info@IPNTA.ORG about your letter?
IF YES IF NO
Come to a meeting

Thurs, Feb 9, 7:00 PM
310 Greenwich St
2nd floor community room
Send email today to info@ipnta.org  

Tell us you got the notice; include your name, address, phone number, and whether you are LAP, Voucher or Free Market

Don't have email?
Drop a note in IPNTA lobby box with your name, address, phone number, and whether you are LAP, Voucher or Free Market
Did you respond to DHCR?
IF YES IF NO
Come to a meeting

Thurs, Feb 9, 7:00 PM 310 Greenwich St 2nd floor community room
Sign and return the page 2 of the notice to the DHCR MCI Unit (address on top of form).

Write on the form: “I hereby request an extension of 30 days. The tenants of the development are in the process of signing authorization forms, obtaining a copy of the application and retaining counsel.”

Remember to keep a copy for yourself.

Come to a meeting
Thurs, Feb 9, 7:00 PM
310 Greenwich St
2nd floor community room
ATTEND THE MEETING ONLY IF YOU RECEIVED A DHCR RENT INCREASE NOTICE.
"Best Doorman in New York"
Onnie Rose, 310 Greenwich's well-loved doorman, was featured in Daily News Best Doorman in New York article. Congratulations, Onnie!
NY Daily News, November 27, 2011

J-51 Update [Full Story] - Updated 12/31/11

The J-51 appeals were argued in NY's intermediate appellate court, the Appellate Division, on December 14, 2011. The court reserved decision and will issue a ruling at a date that is entirely up to them. In the meantime, all we can do is await the decision. The losing party, may then seek to appeal the decision to the state's highest court, the NY Court of Appeals.


Update from John Scott, Democratic District Leader.
For full story, see Archive

-- John Scott, Democratic District Leader, JScott2709@aol.com


Here is a video of Senator Squadron debating the J-51 bill on the floor of the Senate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpxtFAmjUM8

A Note to LAP Tenants

If you signed a one year lease last year, you have to renew your lease this year. By now you may have received the lease extension from management.

The new leases are 2.25 % for a one year lease and 4.5 for a 2 year lease. It is my opinion that you should elect to take a two year lease and lock in the lower 4.5 % rate. The rates will defiantly be higher in July as The Rent Guidelines Board proposed raising rents 3 to 5.75 percent for one-year leases and 6 to 9 percent for two-year leases.

Also, to deal with rising oil costs, the Rent Guidelines Board made a preliminary vote to add a temporary 1 percent fuel surcharge to rents. It’s the first such surcharge in 30 years. The Exec. Board members agree with this recommendation for this year.
-- John R Scott, IPNTA Political Action Committee Chair
June 2, 2011

Apartment Inspection

May 5, 2011.  The Division of Tenant Resources and Code Enforcement recently began a new Pilot Program to maximize the use of HPD’s inspectors. The attached letter is being sent to all tenants whose unit is scheduled for an nspection this summer. HPD’s goal is to inspect the units of Section 8 participants residing in developments that converted to Enhanced Section 8 vouchers this summer to change the HQS inspection dates moving forward.

Previous Stories are in the Archive

Dec 18, 2010 NEW INFO FOR ALL LAP TENANTS WHO RECEIVED DHCR FORMS...Now MORE rent registration forms have been sent by Stellar/DHCR.

Nov 30, 2010 To All Lap Tenants Who Filed Overcharge Papers. Did you receive DHCR Apartment Registration Forms from Stellar Management?

About Paying Your Rent

IPN Tenants Have Won the J-51 Case!  Apartments are rent-stabilized.    Download the Decision.

On August 30th, 2010, Judge Friedman ruled that Independence Plaza is rent stabilized because it received J-51 benefits both before and after exiting from the Mitchell Lama program, and that HPD did not change that status when it permitted the landlord to “pay back” the post-exit tax benefits.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU? See the October 2010 Newsletter.

Thank you, as always, to all active tenants who have stood by the IPNTA and assisted with distribution, etc. all these years. We need all tenant volunteers and support more than ever now.


News Coverage (Also see In The Press)

Tribeca Trib, Oct 2, 2010, Victorious IPN Tenants Continue Fight as Landlord Appeals
Press Release: Borough President Stringer, Senator Squadron and Council Member Chin Celebrate Victory for Tenants of Independence Plaza North, Aug 31, 2010
Tribeca Trib, Aug 31, 2010, Judge Rules for IPN Tenants in Rent Stabilization Lawsuit
Crain's New York, Aug 31, 2010, Court rules against big Manhattan landlord
Downtown Express, Rent stability returns to I.P.N. after five years, Aug 25 - Sep1- 7, 2010
DNA Info, TriBeCa Tenants Win Rent-Stabilization Case Against Landlord, Aug 31, 2010
DNA Info, Federal Government Could Recoup Millions From Independence Plaza Ruling, Sep 1, 2010

One-way Traffic on Chambers Street, beginning Aug 29, 2010
Download the Community Advisory


Major Ruling on the Stuyvesant Town Case

Listen to our own Ed Rosner, discuss the case on WBAI.
WBAI Arts Magazine, Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 2pm
"The unraveling of the Tax Abatement Decision, lawyers Ed Rosner and Alex Schmidt testify."
WBAI.org web site:
http://archive.wbai.org/files/mp3/091201_140001artsmag.MP3
Or download the file (mp3) here
WBAI Program Archive: http://archive.wbai.org/

NY Times article about IPN, features interviews with IPN tenants:
In TriBeCa, a Face-Off Over City Tax Breaks and Rents
New York Times, November 4, 2009
"The special city tax breaks that the owner of a large apartment complex in TriBeCa received from 2004 to 2006 could hardly be described as a windfall ..." [Full Story]

Court Deals Blow to Owners of Apartment Complex
from New York Times, October 23, 2009
"The state’s highest court dealt a potentially crippling blow o ..." [Full Story]

Court Shakes Up New York Landlords
Wall Street Journal, O ctober 23, 2009

Court rules rents improperly raised in Stuy Town
NY Post , October 22, 2009


Previous Stories -- see IPNTA Newsletters or Archive


IPN in the News (also see In The Press)


Documents
Join IPNTA Membership Form 2011
Mitchell-Lama Residents Coalition Opposition to new anti-Roberts Bill
Oct 2010- Instructions for Filing Overcharge
Retainer/Solidarity Forms
IPNTA_Instructions_Legalfund.pdf
Retainer/Solidarity Forms
DHCR Overcharge Form http://www.nysdhcr.gov/Forms/Rent/ra89.pdf
J51 Decision, Aug 2010 Decision_30_Aug_2010.pdf
General Meeting May 2010 Presentaton/Discussion: Why IPN Should Have Been Rent Stabilized Beginning on June 29, 2004
J51 Law Suit Judge Friedman's decision in the J-51 case, released Friday, April 3, 2009 (also see Archive)
September 28, 2007: On September 27, Judge Friedman issued two interim decisions about the J-51 case. Both are posted here as pdfs:
 J51 Summary Judgment Decision and IPNTA decision re Amend Complaint   [Full story in Archive...]
2010 Filing Rent Overcharge with DHCR Oct 2010 - Information and Forms to be posted shortly
DHCR Web site: http://nysdhcr.gov/Forms/Rent/ra89.pdf
2008 - Filing Rent Overcharge with DHCR - Group Filing Mar 2008 - Information about the first filing is in our Archive for reference.
The complaint forms have been filed by our attorney with DHCR, accompanied by this cover letter  (Full story -- see Archive or March 2008 Newsletter)
IPNTA Bylaws IPNTA Bylaws (Amended Nov 2009)
IPN Settlement Agreement IPN Settlement Agreement (March 2004)

Top / Archive / In The Press / IPNTA Newsletters / Elected Officials / IPNTA Officers / Links / Community/Preparedness / Contact Us / Site Map

See the Mitchell-Lama Residents Coalition opposition to anti-Roberts bill (also posted below in Documents)
Seniors Page
News and information for IPN's Senior Residents
Download Membership Form

General Info
Important IPN Contacts

Management:
(212) 962-3530

Maintenance:
800-313-0611

Security & After Hours Emergencies:
(212) 376-4161
Keeping In Touch With IPNTA

To contact IPNTA, please do the following:

Either drop a note in the lobby tenant box, marked "IPNTA," (the preferred way), with your name, phone, and apartment, or e-mail us at info@ipnta.org., or speak to your floor captain.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a Tenant Association. If you are interested in renting an apartment, contact the Management Office, 212-962-3530. Thank you.
Skyline Picture
Be an Active Member of Your Tenant Association
Maintenance Issues
As always, first call maintenance: 800-313-0611.

If not being addressed by management, contact us by note in lobby tenant box, or email info@ipnta.org. Print clearly and give name, phone, AND email! Thanks

You can also print out the IPN Tenant Complaint Form. Drop the complaint form in the Lobby Box.
Neighbor to Neighbor: The Downtown Solution
IPNTA's Guide to Community Healing
Booklet in PDF version (363k) or View Online.
Tips for building community and suggestions for emergency preparedness.